The Arizona Department of Education Building in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Arizona Department of Education has launched a new online tool to streamline teacher certification in the midst of an ongoing teacher shortage.
According to September data from the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association, a quarter of teaching positions in the state remain vacant a few weeks into the school year. This is the ninth consecutive year of the continuing teacher shortage.
The State Department of Education is trying to make it easier for candidates to apply for teaching certification with a new online system launched this week.
“Streamlining the certification process with this online system makes it easier for current educators and those who are just entering the profession to get all the documents they need to thrive in their work,” Superintendent Tom Horne said in a statement.
Education officials said applications can now be completed entirely online, and applicants can also track their progress in real time. The automated system also sends notifications at key milestones in the certification process.
Potential educators must have an ADEConnect account to use the new system.
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